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“One of my earliest games for Wasps was against Neath at the Gnoll on a Friday night. I can’t remember the score, I’m not sure I touched the ball to be honest with you!

“You really understood what rugby meant to people in those sort of places. Rugby is in the DNA in Wales and this is a huge fixture.”

Dallaglio shared in some hefty wins over the Welsh during his illustrious career- 60-26 in 1998, 46-12 in 2000, 44-15 in Cardiff in 2001, 47-13 in 2006 and 62-5 in 2007.

Dallaglio was part of the England team that crushed Wales 46-12 in 2000 (Image: Daily Mirror)

“It was a fixture I loved playing in,” says the 44-year-old.

“I was lucky enough to play in a strong England side. I think I played 10 times against Wales and lost the one game in 1999, which was a significant game to lose, trust me, and one which my Welsh mates still make me remember.

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“I learned more in that defeat than I did in all the victories. I learned that I never wanted to feel like that again and I learned that to win big games you have to be ruthless in taking your chances. We didn’t exploit our opportunities at Wembley that day.

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“While England won’t use it as an excuse, they haven’t had the best preparation going into the tournament.

“They were missing seven or eight players from the Grand Slam and a third of the team that last ran out at Twickenham against the Wallabies in November.

“And they are big game players as well. The Vunipola brothers would add considerable weight and skill to any side they came into.

“So it was always going to be a tricky fixture.

Billy Vunipola in action for England against the Wallabies last summer

“England looked a little bit slow and ponderous out of the blocks, like a team that were waiting to grab the initiative, which is always dangerous when you are playing in your opening game.

“I don’t know if that was down to the way they prepared. Maybe they put a lot into the week and just looked heavy legged to me.

“But let’s take nothing away from France. It’s good to welcome France back to the Six Nations to be honest with you.

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“It’s been six years since they finished in the top three, which is awful really considering the resources they have got.

“I have got a lot of French friends who have been pretty upset over the way France have played over the last six or seven years. I think enough is enough for them. They have realised now that things have got to change and I’m sure they will.

Dallaglio - "It's good to welcome France back to the Six Nations to be honest with you"

“I suppose they will ask themselves is how they could dominate a game so convincingly, particularly up front, and yet not win.

“They had more clean break, more line breaks, more metres made, everything, all the statistics and yet they still couldn’t get over the line more than once.

“They haven’t added the ruthlessness and the finishing ability to all the build-up work.

“When they do they are going to be a formidable team. Up front they did everything they could do to win that game.

“They caused England a lot of problems and maybe from an England perspective that’s no bad thing, coming down to what is a massive fixture against Wales.

Wales celebrate Liam Williams' try against Italy

“Both teams will improve significantly. England have to because they were very inaccurate in large parts of their game. I see it as a huge battle really.”

Dallaglio continued: “Both sides have got some interesting selections ahead of the game.

“Who do they put in, because the benches made a significant impact for both teams.

“They both finished very strongly and when that happens there’s often a temptation to make wholesale changes.

“I know Wales have got their selection problems, headaches or questions around Dan Biggar and George North.

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“England themselves have got some pondering to do, but by and large it will be about the forward pack getting a lot more out of their performance. They need their spring back in their step.”

As for the tournament as a whole, Dallaglio said: “The Six Nations does what it says on the tin. It gets better and better as a tournament. I was lucky enough to play in the old Five Nations, then the Six Nations.

“There is a wonderful hype and excitement and a build-up.

“We have got a marvellous seven weeks ahead of us really. The opening weekend told us everything we need to know about the rivalries and that things don’t always turn out how we think they are going to. We’ve had upsets, we’ve had dramas and there’s plenty more to come.”

*Dallaglio was speaking during a training session with pupils from the Ty Gwyn Education Centre in Aberdare, who are enrolled in his Foundation’s RugbyWorks programme, which uses the skills and values of rugby to benefit disengaged young people who have been failed by mainstream education.